Avalanche danger continues to be considerable in the high country. On Dec. 20 a large, naturally triggered avalanche occurred in the Bear Creek area of Telluride, which ran all the way into the valley. The area is not typically used by backcountry skiers, and Telluride Ski Patrol told San Miguel Sheriff Deputies that no tracks were seen.
“Those who hike or otherwise recreate in the Bear Creek area should use caution as high winds at higher elevations could produce conditions that could trigger another avalanche,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
A final report on a fatal avalanche that killed two Durango backcountry skiers last weekend says it appears the skiers likely triggered the slide while climbing up an avalanche path.
The two skiers – identified as Dr. Jeff Paffendorf, 53, and Albert “Bert” Perry, 55 – left Durango on Saturday morning to ski the north face of an area known as Battleship, northwest of Silverton.
A report released Thursday says the pair reached the trailhead around 10 a.m., and then skied about a mile before coming down a slope into Mineral Creek.
From the bottom, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center said, Paffendorf and Perry headed east and into the north face of Battleship. The pair made one run, then climbed west through a sparsely wooded area toward the center of the north face of Battleship.
It is believed Paffendorf and Perry were traveling uphill in an avalanche path when they triggered the slide, which started above them.
Jonathan Romeo of the Durango herald contributed to this article.
